West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-06-16


hire herself out, but how could she ever
write back home where such happy news
was expected from her or how could she
put uncomfortable anxiety upon those best
friends by not writing at all7 Svadia
was so pleasant especially in the long
nightless summers. Good and kind they
were 10 strangers there; her mother al
ways baked watlles and carried them with
coffee to the morning bedside of guest.
She could see her native meadows
stretching away in the blue Northern air.
and the iron whip, as her mother called
the scythc, beating up an appetite in those
who welded il, while she herself, a care
less little maid, came bearing the second
breakfast TO the mowers
4 quavering but hearty voice. which
might have come from the mouth Of her
own grandmother if it had not belonged
to Peter Lund's mother, sung out Lapp-
Finn nurse song by an upper window,
and Elsa knew Just what sylables the
dancing baby was made to emphasize.
"Donsa lupon,
Hopsom tup an,
Lanti Ira,
Hopsom stira:
SpTontli lupon, lupon,
Hopsom tup an, tup an,
Ianti lira, lira,
epson stira stira.'
Dance and Jump,
Hop like n rooster,
Hop like the skatan
Perhaps this very instant-for Elsa
made no calculations in longitude and
time-Vader's mutter danced the baby
under her home roof; and none Of her
people knew how faint, how outcast. how
bcwildered the eldest child felt sitting on
steps in strange Amerikansk town
In Elsa's box ofciothiug was the finest
shccpskin blanket her mother ever made.
50 white in fleece, and cured bv butter
ing and scraping until the skin Welded
soft like chamois leather. 1t was lined
with scarlet flannel She could see the
stOre-room of her fathers farm-house
hung thickly with such fleeces. and hear
her mother say she wished Elsa could
take more, since they had so little money
to send with her. But Arne Sandstrom
had sent the money to pay her way, be
cause he loved her so. They were chill
dren together, and yet he was held as dear
asa son in her own family. Elsa's moth
or never disturbed him How could il
therefore be possible that Arne Sand
strom, after sending for his betrothed,
could be marrying a Swede Amerikann
the very evening Of her arTivali
In her intensely quiet fashion the poor
girl was wiping away tears as fast as they
dripped down her cheeks and now she
lifted her head from the step, coming to a
decision.
She walked up on the veranda, her
feet sounding heavy and uncertain. and
stood at the door ready to knock. Her
pteous great eyes moved from wall to
wall Of she ample dining room, recog-
nizing Svensk wooden spoons and beau
tifully painted and polished Russian
bowls in various sizes on the sideboard.
Hard baked Svensk bread, 50 loved by
the white and firm Scandinavian teeth.
and all known home luxuries. with un-
hcard-of Amcrikann things, smiled at
her from the gittering tables. This
Lena Lund would be called a mam'zelle
in Svadia; she was very much above a
poor yungfrau like Elsa ANY man
might be glad to marry her. Still Elsa
would not believe Arne Sandstrom had
forgotten his betrothcd.
She could see him from where she
stood in an inner room with a back
ground Of fine furniture How bcauti-
fnlh he looked, all in Amcrkann clothes
and with soft dark gloves on his hands
like q very rich man His cheek was
ruddy, his forehead white. and the very
round Of his carlow we'll Elsa remem
bored itl Arnc Sandstrom was happv.
and laughing aloud with other people
She heard his voice while she stood lust
without, so wrctchcd her whole soul
seemed numb
perfect silence she waited and still
saw him laugh and extend his hand to
have IL shaken by one and another. until
% figure came out of the room where he
was, 10 pass through tho dininu-room.
and She knew in an instant otto Jutberg.
who came to America with Arne Elsa
put her foot across the threshold and said.
to call his attention lotto"
otto approached tho door and looked
at her. One rope of her faxen
hair hung down ON her breast. and she
looked travel-worn
lotto Jutberg, 7 want to see Ane
"Arnc IS going TO be married in q few
minutes said Otto.
~ know he is But ! want 10 see Arne
Sand from Tell him To- come here
Who is itf' pressed otto. coming
nearer to her and knitting his brows in-
Quiriuglv
"Don't you know me, Otto. when YOU
have been TO my fathers nearly every ST
Johns Eve Of our HvcsY
Elsa felt that she needed only ono more
drop TO her cup, and that was for some
voice 70 raise the dcrisivc song with
which her countrymen Knocked Scowneys.
or inhabitants Of q region the butt Of an
Svadia
"a Scowon, a ScOwen'
one bar was enough TO rouse sudden rage
boo any Svcnqk
But instead Of ''A Scowen n Scowcn.n
rising around Elsas cars this enchanted
night. such a din Of outcries was made
by Otto Jutberg that people ran to look